The Elements of Creativity: Attributes Listing Method

Attribute listing is one of the best ways to generate ideas, whereby there any many parts to the problem/ challenge faced. If you are asked to generate ideas or solutions to a complex challenge, the first thing you can do is to list all the attributes of your problem.

These may include:

• Physical

• Mental

• Emotional

• Social

  < li>and more (depending on the complexity of the challenge)

By doing so, you can then concentrate on each attribute at a time. This will no doubt give you more peace of mind (and pulling of your hairs) when generating your ideas.

The attribute listing technique is often used in a Research & Development (R&D) department of many companies, especially those who are constantly producing innovative products to have an advantage over their competitors.

Let's go through this worked example to give you a better understanding of how attributes listing can be of help to you.

For example, if your challenge is to design a new ladies' handbag, you could list the attributes as: the physical aspects which include- shape, length, colour, materials used and on the emotional aspects-the stress some women faced of misplacing their handbags. You might choose to first tackle the emotional stress of losing one's handbag by creating a new small gadget to be placed within the handbag to sound the owner that she is moving too far away (maybe one or two metre away) from her 'treasure chest'. After that, you could work on the other attributes, one by one, be it the shape or materials used for the handbag.

Putting Your Elements to Work:

Try to generate oodles of ideas using attributes listing with these sets of challenges:

1. Design a new toy for children under 6 years old to teach them simple arithmetic. Safety is an important attribute.

2. Create a campaign to encourage people to stop smoking. (Think through the attributes: Physical, Mental, Emotional and Social)

3. Set up an effective marketing plan (there are many parts to a good marketing plan: the 4 P's ? Product, Price, Place and Promotion) for your new products.

Have Fun!

About The Author

Dr. Alvin Chan is a Senior Research Consultant at First Quatermain Centre of Collaborative Innovation (www.firstquatermain.com).

Please contact heartware2002@yahoo.com as a courtesy when reprinting the article online and/or offline.

bizguru88@hotmail.com

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:49:19 GMT Man with financial woes kills family, self - San Francisco Chronicle Sydney Morning Herald Man with financial woes kills family, self San Francisco Chronicle - 1 hour ago An unemployed financial adviser apparently despondent over his troubles shot and killed his wife, his mother-in-law and three children before taking his own life in a gated community, Los Angeles police said Monday. Video: 6 Die in Family Murder-suicide in Upscale Home AssociatedPress California: Six Bodies Found in Los Angeles Home New York Times CNN - Reuters - Los Angeles Daily News - FOXNews all 557 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:38:59 GMT McCain, Obama introduce newly sharp tone amid major news events - Los Angeles Times Washington Post McCain, Obama introduce newly sharp tone amid major news events Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago McCain intensifies his attack on Obama's past and character, and Obama returns the favor. The tactics may not resonate with voters in a time of crisis. Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress McCain, Obama unleash another round of attacks Reuters New York Times - Chicago Tribune - Dallas Morning News - The Miami Herald all 4,436 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:01:25 GMT Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death - New York Times InjuryBoard.com Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death New York Times - 5 hours ago By TARA PARKER-POPE Sleeping in a room with a fan lowers a baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome by 72 percent, a new study has found. Study Suggests Fan Use Cuts SIDS Risk in Babies Wall Street Journal Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS San Jose Mercury News U.S. News & World Report - WebMD - USA Today - Medgadget.com all 424 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:22:40 GMT Frerotte leads Vikings to Monday night victory - FOXSports.com Boston Globe Frerotte leads Vikings to Monday night victory FOXSports.com - 1 hour ago by Alex Marvez Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He's covered the NFL for 14 seasons as a beat writer and is the president of the Pro Football Writers of America. Frerotte proves mettle against sloppy Saints SportingNews.com National Football League Game Capsules Sports Network Minneapolis Star Tribune - Boston Herald - Philadelphia Inquirer - Newsday all 1,172 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:39:53 GMT Turkey hits PKK targets in n. Iraq on Tuesday - International Herald Tribune Voice of America Turkey hits PKK targets in n. Iraq on Tuesday International Herald Tribune - 1 hour ago ANKARA: Turkish warplanes pounded suspected Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq for a second straight day on Tuesday, stepping up a bombing campaign after the death of 17 Turkish soldiers in a cross-border ambush. Turkish warplanes bomb 21 PKK targets in N Iraq People's Daily Online Turkish airstrikes target Kurdish rebels CNN United Press International - Aljazeera.net - AFP - The Associated Press all 1,633 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:30:40 GMT Red Sox roar into AL title series - Boston Globe Red Sox roar into AL title series Boston Globe - 1 hour ago By Dan Shaughnessy Bring on the Rays. Bring on the Dodgers or Phillies if you like. There is plenty of champagne left in New England and Mayor Menino has sent the duck boats to have their tires rotated. Red Sox not taking Rays lightly in next round of postseason MLB.com Red Sox squeeze past Angels, advance to ALCS Washington Post SI.com - ESPN - Boston Herald - FOXSports.com all 3,162 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:49:29 GMT Sri Lanka: international probe called into killing - International Herald Tribune ABC News Sri Lanka: international probe called into killing International Herald Tribune - 29 minutes ago AP COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's top opposition party called Tuesday for an international investigation into a bomb attack the previous day that killed a popular former army general and 26 others. Video: Sri Lanka army closes in on Tamil Tigers - 07 Oct 08 AlJazeeraEnglish Former Tamil rebel fighter named as member of parliament Monsters and Critics.com guardian.co.uk - The Associated Press - ABC Online - Radio Australia all 1,419 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:19:30 GMT RSS Software Increase Website Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Charge Your Imagination (1)

"The challenges are not in the marketplace. They are in... Read More

3 Clever Creative Strategies!

I've got a confession to make... there are many ways... Read More

We Tend To Make Up Our Own Truths: What Stories Are You Making Up?

Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail!

There is no sure fire route to commercial success but... Read More

Be Creative: 10 Easy Steps To Increase Your Confidence, Creativity and Cash In The Attention Economy

How can you be more creative? How can you turn... Read More

Turning Obstacles Into Blessings

"Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life... Read More

Make Yourself Creative: Two Easy Idea-Generating Methods

Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to... Read More

The Elements of Creativity: Attributes Listing Method

Attribute listing is one of the best ways to generate... Read More

Brainstorming Effectively

BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions... Read More

9 Ways to Live Creatively

Creativity ? according to Webster's it means having the ability... Read More

Creative Thinking versus Critical Thinking

The process of creative thinking is often, mistakenly, intertwined with... Read More

The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More

Creativity Isnt Just About Art It Is About Healing

Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More

True Power: Understanding the Source of All Creation and Creativity

"True Power" is a series that will focus on proven... Read More

Sharing Our Creative Work with Others

In my "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, I ask the question:"What's... Read More

7 Techniques to Supercharge your Creativity and Solve your Problems

Do you ever encounter problems, challenges or obstacles in your... Read More

Creativity Management ? The Value Of An Idea?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Codifying Creativity

Can we codify creativity? Within these few words are a... Read More

Creativity and Communication Lessons from Crossing the Street

Spring is in full bloom, which means it's 'get back... Read More

Tips on Breaking the Creative Block

There's no question that creating anything is hard to do.... Read More

Magic In Your Spice Rack

Variety is the spice of life, but spices, historically are... Read More

Creativity Management ? Synergy of Craft and Art

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creative Dreams - What Winter Driving Taught Me

We had a winter storm the other day here in... Read More